Information relating to 905 - Questions about the permanent boil water notice for the Allandale water supply.
I have just received the letter relating to a permanent boil water notice for drinking water. This is the first I have been made aware of this matter this is dated October 2025, which I don't believe is reasonable. With a matter as serious as drinking water and two young children it is disappointing that a more timely notification process wasn't undertaken i.e. door to door letter drop or included in rural mail run for area. When we bought our property there was a compliant drinking water supply available, now there is not.
Information regarding the Boil Water Notice has been communicated through several channels. This includes publication on Council’s website, Council’s Facebook page, and in Fairlie Accessible. Notification was also sent via email to customers on the Allandale Water Supply contact list who had previously agreed to receive communications electronically.
Could you aid in answering the following questions and queries? Can you supply the requested information as a LGOIMA?
Can all of Council (elected members, CEO and officers) confirm they have investigated and completed everything reasonably practicable to date within under health and safety as a PCBU and new drinking water leglislation to manage and treat the water to achieve the drinking water standards (i.e filtering or UV treatment as mentioned & This is over and above issuing a permanent boil water notice for statutory compliance). Is Taumata Arowai aware and been notified of the permanent boil water notice and the indicative timeframe to achieve compliance? Are they statisfied as the regulator?
The proposed upgrade of the Allandale water supply has been identified and included within Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP). A preferred upgrade solution has not yet been identified. Compliance with relevant drinking water quality requirements is reported to the Water Services Regulator, Taumata Arowai.
Have costings/ estimates been prepared for treatment upgrades on the Allandale supply? If so can these be provided, broken down per treatment type? If not able to be released can I have a copy of a high level lump sum figure, break down per treatment?
Provision for the project is included within Council’s Long Term Plan. The Long Term Plan is publicly available on Council’s website: https://www.mackenzie.govt.nz/council/plans-reports-and-strategies/plans/long-term-plan
Two years is a long time with a young family at 3 litres a day for 4 people totaling 12 litres of water to boil daily which doesn't seem reasonable.
Will Council supply alternative source drinking water to affected Allandale water supply residents and an ability to transfer this in large quantiies i.e a week at a time?
There is no allocation for the provision of an alternative source of drinking water. The purpose of the Boil Water Notice is to advise customers to boil water intended for human consumption.
Can all of Council advise if the residual risk has changed? Is this on the councils risk register if so what is the ranking and priority? Can a copy of the risk register please be supplied?
Water safety risks are encapsulated in the Water Safety Plan. Required barriers to contamination do not, and have not, existed on the supply. As such, the risk relating to the absence of barriers has not changed.
Council has just recently built a world class treatment plant for Fairlie, but are now signaling they are unable to treat the other supplies for some time? Has connecting the Allandale water supply to Fairlie treatment plant been explored? What was the cost of implementing this solution? Was this feasible?
Why are treatments such as UV treatments not been deemed viable as an interium solution as it is relatively cost effective and inexpensive whether with or without filtration?
Provision for upgrading the Allandale supply is included within Council’s Long Term Plan.
Is all of Council planning to provide any assitance in relation to this for households with vulnerable users, children, elderly. I.e isolated domestic treatment?
Council has not allowed for an additional level of service in its Long Term Plan.
I assume if regulations have changed and now only part of the previous service is now being delivered( i.e no safe drinking water) and only washing, watering and stock water, etc. is now being supplied that there will be a rates rebate until the service is upgraded and that this will be backdated to the date of this notice?
The service provided is consistent with the historic level of service and continues to attract the charges set out in Council’s Annual Plan and Long Term Plan.
I assume this is an all of Council decision to not upgrade/ further treat the supply that this shall not affect any consent from resident or private land owner for existing, current future or further consent applications, for residential dwelling into the future? Whether this is resource or building consent, can you confirm this is the case?
The project to upgrade the supply is included in Council’s Long Term Plan and Council’s intention to undertake an upgrade is therefore clear.
Can you confirm if water is safe and suitable for pets and stock with out boiling?
The service provided is consistent with the historic service provided, including the level of treatment.
What is the likelihood of getting sick from consuming the water in its current form? How long shall the water be boiled for as ot isn't mentioned?
Information is available from the Water Services Regulator, Taumata Arowai: https://www.taumataarowai.govt.nz/for-the-public/drinking-water-in-an-emergency/treating-water
Can you freeze the water and will this treat it/ kill the bugs? What size filters would be required to treat? What grade/ wattage of UV light treatment would be required domestically?
The water supply lacks the necessary barriers to satisfy current water supply regulations. The risk reduction gained by meeting the requirements is a matter determined by the Water Services Regulator, Taumata Arowai, during the establishment of the requirements. Enquiries relating to alternative treatment methods and residual risk are best directed directed to the Water Services Regulator, Taumata Arowai.
Can it be confirm if all of Council (elected members, CEO and officers) that there shall be no unecessary expenditure on amenity items, grants, nice to haves across the district/ wards until basic critical infrastruture upgrades, safety items have been delivered or until treatment upgrades/ a solution is found, funded and delivered?
Council activities are identified and progressed in accordance with the LTP.
I assume rates will reduce and or remain similar for the next 2-3 years given the reduction in services provided has occurred?
The service provided remains consistent with the historic level of service and continues to attract the charges set through Council’s Annual Plan and Long Term Plan. No mechanism exists to apply a rebate in these circumstances.
Can Council please supply a copy of the current month last month as well as the last two full yearly quarters (calendar year) of WaterTest results and entry spreadsheets for the Allandale supply? (Electronic files are fine.) Can you provide the number of households that this affects?
Please find attached “Allandale Water Test Results 2025–2026”.
A household count is not available. However, the Water Services Regulator, Taumata Arowai, records the population supplied by the scheme as approximately 200 persons.
Can Council please provide the up to date water safety plan for the Allandale Water Supply?
Please find attached “Allandale Drinking Water Safety Plan - Final”.
Can all of Council please provide an update of investigations to achieving drinking water compliance to date for the Allandale supply, any third party engagements, reports, council reports and other drinking water facilities? Can you please indicate what year and when on the forward works programme treatment upgrade us planned? Also when on the Forward works programme investigation and design work is planned?
The project to upgrade the supply is included within Council’s Long Term Plan.
Information relating to third-party engagements has been withheld as it is commercially sensitive. Withholding this information is necessary to protect the commercial position of the parties involved and is therefore withheld under section 7(2)(b)(ii) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.
Please find attached the pipeline alignment report “12585950-REP-Allandale Rural Supply Scheme Options Assessment V2”.
Can Council advise of available unallocated water units both A and B units in the Allandale supply?
There are no available unallocated water units.
Can Council supply the daily water volume usage for the Allandale supply (electronic files are fine)?
Please find attached “Allandale Daily Water Usage July to Dec 2025”.
Please note: Due to the size of the documents referenced these will be sent separately via Wetransfer following this response email.
These documents include:
1. 12585950-REP-Allandale Rural Supply Scheme Options Assessment V2
2. Allandale Drinking Water Safety Plan – Final
3. Allandale Water Test Results 2025-2026
4. Allandale Daily Water Usage July to Dec 2025
[NOTE: these large documents can be requested from Council.]